Make that change
It’s a week into Lent, and like every other Lent I’ve been asked the same question, “so what are you giving up?” with the same suggestions to give up sweets; chocolate; alcohol; meat... basically a diet masquerading as a religious observance. Then there are the more spiritual suggestions, usually accompanied by a quote from the pope or another leader offering ideas like, “fast from gossip, selfishness,” etc. I previously wrote a blog entry on fasting, so I won’t repeat what I said there (but you can reread it here). I do, though, have some additional thoughts about Lent and what we should hope to achieve.
Lent is a period of fast and abstinence for christians, lasting for 6 weeks before Easter. In Lent, we particularly focus on Jesus time in the desert, including his temptations. We go through this period to focus on our spiritual life and to draw closer to God. The thing to keep in mind, though, is that the practices followed during this time should not be short-lived; that is, we should be deepening our commitment to live spiritually. All religions have special holy periods where the faithful are called to fast, with the same general rules of behaviour.
What that means to me is that if in Lent I decide to give alms and to abstain from gossiping, then come Easter I should continue to give alms and abstain from gossip. Emulating Jesus’ actions would require that. He spent 40 days in prayer and fasting, and all accounts record that during his life going apart to pray was a daily activity. As humans, our lives should be lived to serve and help others, not only for a few weeks a year.
C.S. Lewis wrote in his Screwtape Letters that the road to hell is the gently sloping downward path that is soft to the feet. There is little need for grand gestures, as most people will avoid them, but the little things — sneering at someone’s misfortune; gossiping about others; being perpetually dissatisfied— all pave that gentle slope. A temptation doesn’t work if it’s only an external lure, it must link to something inside ourselves. It is very easy to avoid things that have no hooks into our spirit but we need to be vigilant against the small steps that lead to destruction. A good person can be tempted by the idea of spreading goodness, because something obviously evil has no hold on them.
The spiritual exercises that we do during Lent should also carry forward into the rest of the year. I’ll add, though, that it’s essential to remember that there “is a time to every purpose under heaven.” (I really enjoy reading Ecclesiastes!) During Lent, it is a time to reflect, repent, fast and make reparations for our wrongs. We need to remain aware, though, that sometimes we can get so caught up in appearances that we neglect reality.
I wish you a Lent that helps you to reconnect with your deepest self; that your struggles in the desert renew your life’s purpose and help you to be a light to others. As Meister Eckhart said, “Not that one should give up or neglect or reject one's inner life, but in it and with it and from it one should learn to act in such a way as to let the inward break into activity and draw the activity into inwardness, and thereby train oneself to act in freedom. For one should turn one's eyes to this inner work and act therefrom, whether it be in reading, praying or outward work. But if the outward work tends to destroy the inward, one should follow the inward. But if both can be as one, that is best, then one is co-operating with God.”
Lent is a period of fast and abstinence for christians, lasting for 6 weeks before Easter. In Lent, we particularly focus on Jesus time in the desert, including his temptations. We go through this period to focus on our spiritual life and to draw closer to God. The thing to keep in mind, though, is that the practices followed during this time should not be short-lived; that is, we should be deepening our commitment to live spiritually. All religions have special holy periods where the faithful are called to fast, with the same general rules of behaviour.
What that means to me is that if in Lent I decide to give alms and to abstain from gossiping, then come Easter I should continue to give alms and abstain from gossip. Emulating Jesus’ actions would require that. He spent 40 days in prayer and fasting, and all accounts record that during his life going apart to pray was a daily activity. As humans, our lives should be lived to serve and help others, not only for a few weeks a year.
C.S. Lewis wrote in his Screwtape Letters that the road to hell is the gently sloping downward path that is soft to the feet. There is little need for grand gestures, as most people will avoid them, but the little things — sneering at someone’s misfortune; gossiping about others; being perpetually dissatisfied— all pave that gentle slope. A temptation doesn’t work if it’s only an external lure, it must link to something inside ourselves. It is very easy to avoid things that have no hooks into our spirit but we need to be vigilant against the small steps that lead to destruction. A good person can be tempted by the idea of spreading goodness, because something obviously evil has no hold on them.
The spiritual exercises that we do during Lent should also carry forward into the rest of the year. I’ll add, though, that it’s essential to remember that there “is a time to every purpose under heaven.” (I really enjoy reading Ecclesiastes!) During Lent, it is a time to reflect, repent, fast and make reparations for our wrongs. We need to remain aware, though, that sometimes we can get so caught up in appearances that we neglect reality.
I wish you a Lent that helps you to reconnect with your deepest self; that your struggles in the desert renew your life’s purpose and help you to be a light to others. As Meister Eckhart said, “Not that one should give up or neglect or reject one's inner life, but in it and with it and from it one should learn to act in such a way as to let the inward break into activity and draw the activity into inwardness, and thereby train oneself to act in freedom. For one should turn one's eyes to this inner work and act therefrom, whether it be in reading, praying or outward work. But if the outward work tends to destroy the inward, one should follow the inward. But if both can be as one, that is best, then one is co-operating with God.”
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